Wedge-lock buckle for leaf-springs



N. WATERHOUSE.

WEDGE LOCK BUCKLE FOR LEAF SPRINGS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. I2, 1920.

1,352,488. Patentedsept. 14,1920.

A. W ffl/217er kou/Se UNITED STATES NORMAN WATERHOUSE, CROYDON, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.

WEDGE-LOCK BUCKLE FOR LEAF-SPRINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentd Sept, V151i, 1920,

Application led March 12, 1920. Serial No. 365,353.

10 all who/1a t may concern Be it known that I, NORMAN VVArnRiioUsn, subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Nangerey, 9 Badmington road, Croydon', in the State of New South liVales, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Improved ledge-Lock Buckles for Leaf- Springs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to elliptical or semielliptical springs, the objects being (1) to reduce the cost of replacing a leaf or leaves, (2) to so construct the spring that such replacements may be effected upon the spot, thus obviating the necessity of returning the spring to the workshops, and (3) to retain or increase the efficiency of the spring as compared with the type at present in use.

In my invention there is no central rivet or set screws, consequently, the leaves of the spring are not perforated. The buckle is placed in position without being heated, crimped or shrunk, while the spring may be dismantled and examined or a new leaf or leaves inserted and the spring reassembled, the same buckle, locking plate and wedges being used for that purpose.

It consists of a buckle similar in shape to that at present in use, the underside of the horizontal upper member being provided with' a curved recess or channel extending the full width of the opening in the buckle. The central portion of the leaves of the spring are transversely curved to correspond with the curved recess in the buckle so that they will make a neat fit therewith and with one another. A locking plate, provided on its upper surface with a convex curve to correspond with and to fit into the concave curve in the underside of the last leaf, is then placed in position within the buckle. The underside of the locking plate is provided with two oppositely inclined surfaces for the purpose of allowing wedges to be driven in from opposite sides of the buckle between the locking plate and the upper side of the bottom, or lower horizontal member, of the buckle. The wedges are tapered and are provided with lugs on their forward ends, which, when the wedges have been driven home will be bent in the necessary direction thus firmly securing the whole of the parts together.

In order to more clearly describe the invention reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which :-A

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the central portion of a spring taken on the line C. D. of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line A. B. of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 3 is an end view of the locking plate.

Fig. a is a plan of the same.

Fig. 5 is a plan of one of the taper Wedges.

6 is the buckle which is provided with a curved recess 7. 8 are the leaves of the spring, each leaf having a centrally situated transverse curve 9, the curves being identical in each case to enable them to lie snugly one upon the other. upper surface of which is provided with a convex curve 11 adapted to fit into the concavity, in the underside of the lower plate, formed by the transverse curve 9. 12 and 18 are oppositely inclined surfaces upon the underside of the locking plate 10. Between these inclined surfaces and the inner surface 11i of the lower member of the buckle tapered wedges 15 and 16, provided with lugs 17, will be driven from opposite sidesv of the buckle. This arrangement not only firmly secures all the parts of the spring together but also insures a resistance to a longitudinal strain from either direction. When the parts have all been placed in position and the wedges are driven in as described the lugs will be bent up or down as required, in any suitable and convenient manner. The spring is then ready for use.

Should one of the leaves become broken, or in the event of it being necessary to dismantle the spring it may be quickly taken to pieces by straightening the lugs 17 and forcing the wedges out. This having been done the locking plate 10 and leaves 8 may then be slipped out of the buckle and eac part inspected or a new part substituted for a broken or worn part and the parts replaced in the old buckle.

I claim:

1. In a spring of the character described, in combination, a buckle provided with a curved recess upon one of its inner surfaces, a plurality of leaves having nestable and medial curved portions, a locking plate having a raised locking portion on the upper face for engagement with the undersurface of the curved portion of the adjacent leaf and also provided on its undersurface with 10 is the locking plate thev oppositel)7 inclined surfaces, and tapered Wedges driven from opposite directions between the inclined surfaces of the locking plate and the surface of the buckle opposite to that having` the recess for clamping the locking plate against the adjacent lea:t',' the leaves together and the curved portion oi' the outermost leaf in the recess in the buckle to prevent longitudinal displacement of the parts.

2. ln a spring` of the character mentioned, a buckle, the inner r of which is provided with a recess, leaves passing throi'lgh the buckle superimposed With respect to each other and provided With centrally situated curved portions for nestsu* face of the upper Wall ing engagement with each other, a locking plate having one surface conveXly curved for engagement With the undersurface of the curved portion oi the lowerinost leaf and havinag` the opposite side provided with oppositely inclined surfaces, tapered Wedges insertible from opposite directions between the locking' plate and the lower Wall of the buckle, and bendable locking lugs on the outer end portions of the Wedges for engageinent with the lower Wall of the buckle subsequent to the insertion of the Wedges, substantially as described.

In testimony Whereoil l naine to this specification.

NORMAN VATERHOUSE.

have signed my 

